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Transfers rumours

Indo reporting that Munster are targeting Bundee Aki and Ultan Dillane, Connacht's two best players. I'd love to have Dillane as he's one of my favourite players, is Munster born, and I think it's only a matter of time, but I'm in no way comfortable hamstringing Connacht by taking Aki away from them. Besides it reeks of bull**** a bit because we can't outbid Connacht to my understanding UNLESS they've been outbid by a foreign team and are unwilling to go any higher from what I understand. I know we're leaving Saili off at the years end, and are probably due a 'marquee' back signing, but Aki seems unlikely. Honestly Connacht have been woeful this year which I predicted, but if they lose their two top performers that's lights out in the West.

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Oh I forgot to add they also reported that Paddy Jackson is being courted by Ulster but is expected to stay on at Ulster regardless. He's having one hell of a start to the season. Shown pace I never knew he had.
 
Word is both very likely to arrive on 3 year deals. Saili has to move on and is rumoured to be going to France. And Aki is pushing for move as basically Connach aregoing to be rebuilding again.
 
Groundhog said:
Indo reporting that Munster are targeting Bundee Aki and Ultan Dillane, Connacht's two best players. I'd love to have Dillane as he's one of my favourite players, is Munster born, and I think it's only a matter of time, but I'm in no way comfortable hamstringing Connacht by taking Aki away from them. Besides it reeks of bull**** a bit because we can't outbid Connacht to my understanding UNLESS they've been outbid by a foreign team and are unwilling to go any higher from what I understand. I know we're leaving Saili off at the years end, and are probably due a 'marquee' back signing, but Aki seems unlikely. Honestly Connacht have been woeful this year which I predicted, but if they lose their two top performers that's lights out in the West.

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Oh I forgot to add they also reported that Paddy Jackson is being courted by Ulster but is expected to stay on at Ulster regardless. He's having one hell of a start to the season. Shown pace I never knew he had.
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Sounds like a win-win for Ulster.

As for Aki - guys are going to want to leave Connacht for one of the other three for equal money a lot of the time anyway. Not sure what you can do about that given the current standings of the four in terms of resources.
 
Tigs Man said:
Saili leaving Munster?

And naughty Munster going after Aki.
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Not a chance we'd be allowed to keep him. Munster were hunting for Aki sake time as Connacht but they outbid us. It's an open bidding war for players not already playing in the provinces.
Man Aki would be some signing. Quite shocked he wouldn't just go abroad but he's quite close to being IQ I guess. Higher on my list than Dillane but still. Already seen Connacht fans whining about us poaching despite the fact they raid other academies and have about 7 guys in their whole squad who played youth in Connacht. You build your squad on guys who grew up wanting to play for other provinces don't be surprised when they leave of their own accord. No "IRFU bullying" involved, just like with Henshaw to Leinster. It's rotten but at the end of the day these players are not IRFU property.
 
Groundhog said:
Not a chance we'd be allowed to keep him. Munster were hunting for Aki sake time as Connacht but they outbid us. It's an open bidding war for players not already playing in the provinces.
Man Aki would be some signing. Quite shocked he wouldn't just go abroad but he's quite close to being IQ I guess. Higher on my list than Dillane but still. Already seen Connacht fans whining about us poaching despite the fact they raid other academies and have about 7 guys in their whole squad who played youth in Connacht. You build your squad on guys who grew up wanting to play for other provinces don't be surprised when they leave of their own accord. No "IRFU bullying" involved, just like with Henshaw to Leinster. It's rotten but at the end of the day these players are not IRFU property.
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Can't blame Munster or the players. Munster on the up and ready to build upon that and the Connacht lads want out of Samoan Jose Mourhino's sinking ship, win win for both parties.
 
Have said it before Connacht will struggle.
We've signed Steve Crosbie from Leinster too and in talks with an English based irish forward
 
I wonder if any Premiership clubs have looked at Piers Francis of the Blues in Super Rugby, he seems to have improved a lot since playing consistently at that level. Could be a useful EQP 10/12 to sign, although i'm not sure he would want to leave Super Rugby unless it was a top of the table premiership club or good money.
 
Which Tyler said:
Another Bath signing, and feeling better, it's been a good couple of weeks since we signed a #8
https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/otago/grant-returning-england-join-premiership-side-bath


I don't really get our last few signings TBH..
We need a couple of ICs, a 7 and a THP.bso we sign a bunch of wingers an 8 and downgrade an existing THP. Several will be 'overseas' players too, and unable to play together
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I thought you were joking about signing another 8.....but alas not.

I wonder if you'll look to convert someone to 7 full time or maybe Garvey back to a lock and someone else at 6.
 
munstermuffin said:
Have said it before Connacht will struggle.
We've signed Steve Crosbie from Leinster too and in talks with an English based irish forward
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Completely wild guess based on nothing but is it Conor Gilsenan?
 
living sacrifice said:
I thought you were joking about signing another 8.....but alas not.

I wonder if you'll look to convert someone to 7 full time or maybe Garvey back to a lock and someone else at 6.
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Well, last week we started a lock at OSF, and our last centre went off injured. Whilst our need may not be for wingers and #8s specifically, I think we're just signing up bodies wherever we can get them on short-term contracts for the time being.

Houston is only here until Super rugby pre-season starts in November.
Brew's contract is only until the new year.
Knight, Grant and Wilson (if confirmed) will only be until the end of the season (at most).

Remember, we had the smalles squad in the Prem to start with (which Ford wanted, and then we couldn't recruit without a head coach) which has been ravaged by injury.
IIRC we started the season with 35 seniors, then promoted 2 up from the academy. I think our injury list is 1LHP, 1-2HK, 2THP (1 departed), 2LK, 4BR (+1 absent), 2SH, 1FH, 3CE.
We're down to 2 LHP, 2-3HK, 1THP, 2-3, 2LK, 1BR, 2SH, 1FH, 0CE, 5WG from our original 37.


Out mid-season "transfers" have swapped a fit THP for an injured one, recruited 1#8 who's already here, and another for when he goes again 1 wing who's already here and another for when he (is due to) leave and an OC who won't be here for another 4 weeks.
 
Last edited:
Latest Addison rumours are that he's re-signed.

Another wing signing probably means Addison shifting to the centres permanently. There's question marks whether Tuitupou will make it back from his current injury and even if he does he picks up a nock practically every other game as it is, so a replacement would be needed...
 

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